Question of the Day

Whose side of the story do you believe?

Chicago White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie (12), celebrates with shortstop Alexei Ramirez (10) after hitting a two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 13, 2015, in St. ... more >

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - The Chicago White Sox had two big pinch-hit at bats to take the lead in the top of the eighth, before giving the runs back in the bottom of the inning.

Steven Souza Jr. had a tying RBI single, stole second thanks to a replay review, and scored go-ahead run on an error to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-4 win over the White Sox on Saturday.

“Teams that are successful win close games,” said Adam Eaton, who drew a pinch-hit walk off Chris Archer before Conor Gillaspie’s pinch-hit home run off Brad Boxberger put the White Sox up 4-3 in the eighth. “We’ve got to find that late in the ball game like we did tonight with the two-run home run. We just have to find a way to win late and win close games.”

This time it was the Rays who found the way.

Souza’s two-out single off Zach Putnam (1-2) drove in David DeJesus, who had singled and stole second. Souza then swiped second - after initially being called out - and Asdrubal Cabrera was walked intentionally before Jake Elmore hit a bouncer up the middle.

“The ball gets stuck in your glove. It happens,” said Mark Parent, who is managing the White Sox this weekend while Robin Ventura attends his daughter’s graduation. “It just seems that things like that happen too often, not just to him but a lot of us. Those little things that end up adding outs … are just adding up too frequently and obviously we’ve got to correct it.”

Tampa Bay had a 3-2 lead before Gillaspie connected off Boxberger (4-3). It was Gillaspie’s third of the season.

The first pinch-homer of the year for Chicago came after Archer’s first walk in four starts. But Archer said he was not disappointed at getting taken out then, even though he had retired the previous 10 straight.

“If I don’t walk that guy, then we’re not even having this discussion,” Archer said.

Jake McGee worked the ninth for his third save.

Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija pitched seven solid innings. He allowed three runs and six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk, and left the game with a 4-3 lead.

“You just want to do your job and be a professional,” Samardzija said. “In this game, you need to make plays when we need to and that’s every day, not just here and there.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: John Jaso, who has not played since opening day, batted in a cage and worked out at first base and in the outfield, all for the first time since sustaining a left wrist contusion.

UP NEXT

Chicago’s Chris Sale (6-2) will attempt to become the first pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 2001 to strike out 12 or more batters in four consecutive starts Sunday, opposing Tampa Bay’s Nathan Karns (3-3).

EATON, PARENT TALK

Eaton was upset at not being in the lineup, and he let Parent know about it before the game. “He feels like he should be playing every day. Hey, so does everybody else or they wouldn’t be here,” Parent said. “I’m sure my discussions with Adam aren’t over for the day and that’s great. You want a guy that wants to play.”

PUCK PRESENCE

A white Chicago Blackhawks jersey hung in the clubhouse of the White Sox, while several blue Tampa Bay Lightning jerseys were visible in the Rays’ clubhouse, all in recognition of Game 5 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final being played after the game, 20 miles away.